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Forrest: I am feeling good

Last Updated: February 25 2013, 7:41 GMT

James Forrest is targeting an injury-free end to the season after returning to first-team action to score a penalty in Celtic's 5-0 win over Clydesdale Bank Premier League bottom side Dundee at Parkhead.

25. James Forrest

The Scotland international has been in and out of Neil Lennon's plans for large parts of the campaign due only to a variety of niggles including groin and hamstring complaints.

However, the 21-year-old is now looking to become an ever-present in the run-in to the Hoops' likely SPL title win, with the possibility of a William Hill Scottish Cup final appearance still on the cards.

He said: "I am feeling good. I am doing a lot of running with the sports scientist and I just need to get more games.

"There has not been anything seriously wrong and maybe that's a good thing but it has been really frustrating, coming back and getting injured (again) so hopefully with a little bit of luck I can stay fit for the rest of the season."

Celtic stand-in skipper Joe Ledley opened the scoring in the 13th minute with Forrest notching the second from the spot four minutes into the second half after Dee substitute Matt Lockwood, only on for the start of the second-half as replacement for Brian Easton, was shown a straight red card for denying Gary Hooper a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Dylan McGeouch, Ledley and Hooper added goals to further deflate the relegation-bound visitors whose new interim boss John Brown watched from the directors' box.

With Kris Commons missing through a virus, Forrest was happy to take on the responsibility of taking the spot-kick.

"I was asked before the game and I felt confident," he said.

"I think that is the main thing if you are going to hit a penalty and I am just glad it went in.

"That's one out of one penalties, I have given myself a chance (of taking the next one) but I won't bother with that, it was good to get the three points."

Dundee remain 15 points adrift of St Mirren at the bottom of the table but assistant Ray Farningham pleaded with disgruntled fans not to blame Brown for his controversial appointment following the shock departure of Barry Smith last week.

Farningham said: "It is not John's fault and I have got to emphasise that.

"I don't know about John's credentials, all I know is that he will give it 100 per cent and will do everything to try to get the club moving forward and I'm quite sure he will because that is what we have to do now."